Mission

See, here you could just get the carpenter: “Sometimes a Finger, or a Toe, happens to be quasht to peeces, bone and all, so that there is no healing of it, but it must be taken off; or it will quickly Gangreen. In this Case (or if it be already Gangrened) you must place it even on the side of a Table, or some other board, and with your Exterpating Chizel and Mallet take it off at one stroke, and then Cure it as the Amputated Wound.” (Moyle, p. 95) (In fact, the carpenter occasionally served in the role of the surgeon when there wasn't one aboard.)

“And let Enemas be injected when there is need, and open a Vein often, although a little at a time, to correct the blood, and keep off a Fever.” (Moyle, p. 84) Well, that about covers it. I don't know why you guys think you need a surgeon.

"...with the exception of the privateer's commission, none [of the various documents required] was as important to any sea rover as the ship's articles of agreement. Also called a 'charter party' (a maritime term for the contract or charter between the owners of a vessel and the merchants hiring the vessel), and in French a chasse partie (a contract for the hunt or chase) or charte partie, the articles defined the conditions under which the cruise would be conducted. Privateer commanders and investors usually stipulated the articles beforehand in terms such as 'the following Proposals are made by the Owners to all such as shall enter themselves, and serve on Board the said Ships.' The captain or one of his officers was to read the articles out loud to the recruits and crew, and post them in a conspicuous place, such as the great cabin door." (Little, Benerson, The Sea Rover's Practice, p. 34) What's interesting about this is that it suggests that most privateer maritime voyages had what amounted to articles of agreement. (Thinking back on Woodes Rogers' book, their articles were explained there.) So there's really nothing very revolutionary about the articles themselves vis-a-vis pirates. Yet I've seen a lot of crowing about how the pirates were so egalitarian for having established them. The pirate-added element was that the crew was involved in the establishment of the articles, rather than it coming from the owners and officers. This makes sense when you realize they have decided to make themselves the new owners. In a way, they are actually doing little more than following the rules set by the previous owners, which is sort of funny in a way when you talk about how rebellious they were. Even then, Little explains, "Pirates, bucaneers, and filibusters generally determined the articles by a democratic vote held by the commander and five or six representatives chosen by the crew, although in some crews all sat in council." (Little, p. 35) So the whole crew was sometimes involved in voting on the final articles and other times it done more by representative government. I had always wondered how they came up with the idea for having such articles. Those of you who started your interest in piracy coming from the sailing side may find this point excruciatingly obvious, but I found it pretty interesting. It makes the genesis of this particular element of piracy more logical.

Well, be fair and unbiased and forward my comments too. (How can they create something new if they have to spend a bunch of time accommodating all the old stuff?)

I dunno...no offense to the other actors and all, but... I think they might be wise to start over if they're going toward the colonies in search of the Fountain of Youth. (Provided they are; you never know.) Otherwise, you might just have the sort of tedious re-tread that so many sequels become because they have to wedge all the old stuff and people we saw last time in for one more go around.

Hear, hear! Nassssty coral rocks everywheres.

Yes, I've done that. The nice thing about posting them here is that they should always be here unless something catastrophic happens. (Some free pic sites boot you after a certain amount of inactivity.) The bad thing is that you're limited to the number of pics you can close.

Send Dory...she'll get him back for ya'.

I am always actively in the middle of reading several books. I can't go more than a day after finishing a book without starting another. I carry extra books and articles in the car in case I forget my book when I wind up some place where I have to wait for more than 5 minutes for something. I once got reprimanded in traffic court for reading while the other cases were being discussed.

You know, I had actually wondered about this very thing the last time I saw one of those bottles. Interesting.

So...you guys found Nemo again?

Ah, but I willingly bask in silliness and do not pretend to be serious, even when I'm pretending to be serious. (You forgot the Star Wars themed bathroom, the pirate-themed living room, the Key West-themed dining room, the eagle-themed master bedroom and the eventually to be train-themed spare bedroom. Not to mention the life-sized velociraptor and...well, there's just too much. You'll have to visit my webpage to take it all in. )

You've got your pipe. You've got to put it somewhere out of the way where it won't be crushed by other items (as it would in your waistcoat pockets) because it's made of brittle clay. There were tens and probably hundreds of thousands of people who had this problem and also happen to have had hats on... (I think you guys are bordering on the silly here. No offense. )

Not that I think we should actually encourage Stynky to continue in the manner in which is he accustomed by giving him recognition, but... Lest we forgot: The Tryal of Stynky Tudor

Most people don't think there were any verified period 'glasses' as we think of them (with ear pieces). I did find a picture of some that claimed to be from near the end of period in a book by Elizabeth Bennion. But if you need glasses to see...you need glasses to see and should do whatever you have to do balance PC with good sense. (I always wear my insulin pump under my waistcoat and that sure ain't period.) For more on period eye-ware, check out this thread.

While a potential threat, Snopes says it's not very widely circulated and the virus is old and easy to remove. (In fact, it sounds like your virus protection software did just that for you.) http://www.snopes.com/computer/virus/osama.asp

I am reading The Sea Rovers's Practice by Benerson Little. I got the recommendation somewhere on the forum and it's been sitting on my file cabinet waiting to be read. So far...it's ok. The guy is quite philosophical in places - which I like - but he's also a bit too impressed with his vocab and (I suspect) a little to close to the subject to be as objective as he seems to think he is. But it's a nice summary of pirate info with good references. I am also reading The Navy Surgeon or Surgery With a Dissertation On Cold and Hot Mineral Springs and Physical Observations on the Coast of Guiney by John Atkins. It's quite readable, albeit a decade outside of period. As a side note, it's very interesting to me to see the development of the written language from Woodall's The surgions mate (1617) to Moyle's The Sea Chirurgion (1693) to Atkin's The Navy Surgeon (1742), Granted, that is a 125 year span, but the language and style improves most dramatically over that time period. It's almost like watching the Renaissance unfold.

Grey non-silk socks. I want some grey socks. With elastic that lasts forever and keeps them up above the knee with cutting off the circulation to your feet. (Failing that, just bring some nice long grey socks for your pal Mission and don't let anyone else snag them before I get there on Friday. :angry: )

Tell him to come anyhow. We'll amputate. (It'll make for a nice display.)

Who cares what some government organization thinks? I always thought your dwelling choice was sort of cool. "And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music." -Friedrich Nietzsche

Gibbet - you should scan that and post it. It would be interesting to see. Martin - A lot of the period journals have hand drawn maps in them. There are several like this, but the two that come to my mind are: A Voyage to the South Sea and Round the World in the Years 1708 to 1711 by Edward Cooke and The Journal of James Yonge [1647-1721] Plymouth Surgeon, by James Yonge, edited by F.N.L. Poynter. Note that these are NOT treasure maps, they are just hand-drawn maps from period. You might be able to get copies of those through your library, although they are a little hard to find. I always recommend using the research librarians as they have been very helpful to me in obtaining some really weird books. Yonge's maps are pretty simplistic. I did scan one of Genoa in for another post, that I can re-post here for you: I found Cooke's maps so detailed and charming that I scanned several of those in when I had the library book. His maps are fold-outs, quite large - 11" x 14" or so. Here's one of Peru (from page 110): And here's one of upper South America (from page 248):

Amputation, from John Moyle's Chirurgus Marinis: or The Sea-Chirurgeon. He follows this with how the cure proceeds, which I have not typed in quite yet. Maybe I'll add it here. “Now when part of a Limb is carried away, or the Bones so shattered that there is not hopes of saving the Mans life if it should be left on: This indicates Amputation, and there is no delaying of it. Howbeit if you think it possible to be healed, it will redound more to __ your Credit to save it on then to take it off: ‘Tis true indeed, he is a good Surgeon that can take off a Limb dexterously; but he is a better that can save it one and heal it. Now in Order to save this Mans Life, two main intentions immediately Offer. To stop the Efflux of Blood, (for the Blood is the Life) and except that be stopt; the Man will immediately dye. And the other is to Amputate the Limb; for if that be left on, it will Gangreen, and Death will insue in a little time. You are immediately to set this Man down on your Chest with the Limb you intend to Amputate along the Chest, (if it be the Leg) and the Part that is to be taken off over the end of the Chest. Let on e man be at the Patients back holding him, and another before him holding the upper part of the Limb; and a Third holding that Part that must be taken off. This (with the Stockin ript off) must all be done in a moment, because the Man bleeds much. __ Then you are to make strong Ligature [something used to tie around a part to restrict flow] with broad Tape, three or four turns about the Limb, about three inches above the Place you intend to incise, (which if it be the Leg is usually about 4 inches below the Knee) if the Wound will permit; and whilst this is doing let him that has the Gripe [grip] haul up the Muscles tort [taught]; and then if it be the Leg, or the Cubit of the Arm that is wounded, you may make a second Ligature above the Joynt of the Knee or Elbow, which will restrain the Bleeding after you have let the other go. But when the wound is in the Thigh, or upper part of the Arm then this cannot be done, but you must be satisfied with one strong Ligation. This done, (and the Man having had a Spoonful of Cordial to cherish him) you must with your dismembering Knife, take two large Slashes round the Part in the form of half rounds, and let one meet the other, as evenly as possible, and let them be deep enough. Then with your Catling, divide the Flesh and Vessels about and between the Bones, and with the back of your __ Catling, remove the Periostrum [A tough membrane which covers a bone and is firmly attached to it] that it may not hinder the Saw, nor cause greater Torment in the Operation. So Saw off the Bone at as few strokes as possible, and let him that holds the lower Part have a Care to hold steady least he break the Bone before the Saw is quite through. When it is off, apply to the end of the Bone only a thick Pledgit of dry Tow [compress of absorbent linen], (or if the Pledgit were sprinkled with powder of Mirrh it were better). Sometimes I have taken the Cross stitch here, but oftener have done as well without it. Then take your Buttons [linen tow made in the form of a large button], wet them in Acetum [vinegar]; (or aq. Stipica as in the Catalogue at No. 3 [#3 in Moyle’s recipes - I am not reprinting it here]) which is better) and arm them with your Restrictiva Maxima, as at No. 1. (some use the dry Pulv. Restring. Major. alone) apply these to the extremities of the great Vessels, and on them a Dismembring Pledgit, wet in the Acetum, and armed with the same Restrictive. Let this Pledgit be just the breadth of the Stump; and let an Assistant hold __ it fast to, with the breadth of his hand. Then let another Pledgit about an Inch broader than the former be well armed as the other, and apply it, but not the edges closed to as yet. On this Apply a strong Cross Bolster as hard as possible and close the edges of the large Pledgit. And do you wish a single Rowler [bandage – strip of linen or other material] take four or five tort turns about the Part, and over the place where the Ligature was, so that the lower part of the Rowler may be even with the edge of the Stum. Now some strip on a wet Bladder upon this, to save the upper Rowlers __ clean; but I have done the work as well without that. But you must observe here, where Blood appears, and apply dry Buttons to such places, and so bring on another Bolster [pad]; and then with your double Head-rowler to make good Bandage, letting go your second Ligature (if you have one.) This done lay the man so to pass as that his Stump may be as high (if not higher) than his Body, with a Pillow under it. And let him be laid as far to the further part of your Platform as possible that some there may be room for others. For in some Fights I have had my Platform so full, as that I have not well known how to dispose of more.” (Moyle, p. 50-5)

Now here's something fun to have around the house for when the kids get bored. It's a little past period and I doubt any seaman would bothered to invest in one anyhow, but I thought I'd post it here in keeping with my theme. It's up for auction on eBay for you do-it-yourselfers.

Your title talks about treasure maps, but your text sort of suggest your talking about nautical charts. You might search in the Captain Twill forum or in here for the term "charts" if you want info on real period charts. (Charts were used for navigation.) I don't think there are any extant "Pirate Treasure Maps." Huge arguments have taken place among the pirate cognoscente that I know about whether any pirate ever would have left evidence of burying treasure by actually writing it down. (They might have...a few pirates and privateers are recorded as burying treasure, so you'd suppose they'd have to have some sort of way to locate it.) It's really something that traces its roots back to the fictional book Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson. Many editions of that book have a copy of the map he talks about in the story that you might want to use as a reference. I would think if pirate maps existed, they would have been as varied as the people who would have made them.

I vote for Alex as captain. (Oh, wait, I don't have a vote. Oh, well.)